All these numbers evenly divide into 960. So a max-width of 960px has more layout options, such as 16 equally-wide columns. If we round 960 to 1000, you’ll see it has far fewer factors (16).1 2 4 5 8 10 20 25 40 50 100 125 200 250 500 1000

Even though we have 40 more pixels to work with, our options for equal-width columns are greatly diminished.

Before you think the internet will forever be a world 960px wide, there ARE times we’ll develop a site to be responsive up to 1140px for those with enormous, wide screen monitors (like me). We’ve even been known to do sites that are 100% fluid (no fixed pixel widths at all).

The determining factor, for JDM, is how the site will be used and what sorts of layouts we’ll need. If the site is supposed to be simple (no more than 4 columns – ever), we’ll design to these wider specs. Often, it proves just to be more trouble than it’s worth.

So there you go. It’s 960 because it’s just one of those magic numbers with a lot of factors. It’s likely to remain the standard until the most common screen resolution is much, much greater. For now, it’s proof to grade school math students that factors ARE actually good for something. :)

All these numbers evenly divide into 960. So a max-width of 960px has more layout options, such as 16 equally-wide columns. If we round 960 to 1000, you’ll see it has far fewer factors (16).1 2 4 5 8 10 20 25 40 50 100 125 200 250 500 1000

Even though we have 40 more pixels to work with, our options for equal-width columns are greatly diminished.

Before you think the internet will forever be a world 960px wide, there ARE times we’ll develop a site to be responsive up to 1140px for those with enormous, wide screen monitors (like me). We’ve even been known to do sites that are 100% fluid (no fixed pixel widths at all).

The determining factor, for JDM, is how the site will be used and what sorts of layouts we’ll need. If the site is supposed to be simple (no more than 4 columns – ever), we’ll design to these wider specs. Often, it proves just to be more trouble than it’s worth.

So there you go. It’s 960 because it’s just one of those magic numbers with a lot of factors. It’s likely to remain the standard until the most common screen resolution is much, much greater. For now, it’s proof to grade school math students that factors ARE actually good for something. :)